Fair-lead.



-E. L. HORTON.

7 PAIR LEAD. APPLICATION FILED APR. 16, 1908.

906,802. Patented Dec. 15,1908.

' F F? F 7n? NORRIS P515025 50., wAsmNawN, n, c,

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE L. HORTON, OF OROVILLE, CALIFORNIA.

FAIR-LEAD.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE L. HORTON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Oroville ,in the county of Butte and State of California,have invented new and useful Imrovements in Fair-Leads, of which thefolowing is a specification.

My invention relates to dred er attachments, and articularly to a fairead for the bowline of redging machines.

The particular object of the present invention is to provide a guide orguard for the double deck sheaves, through which the bowline passes fromeither side to the winch or engine drum by which the oscillatory movements of the dredge barge are effected.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combinationof parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, havingreference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a frontelevation of my device. Fig. 2 is a plan view of same. Fig. 3 shows itsattachment to a dredger.

A represents a dredger which is suitably moored for oscillation aboutthe spud 2 located at the stern of the barge.

The dredging is accomplished by suitable buckets or other dredging meanscarried on the extension or ladder 3 at the bow of the dredger; anoscillatory movement being given continually in one direction or otherto the dredger by the bowlines 4, which are shown as connected to theladder 3, with one bowline leading to one bank and around a bank sheave5 shown as located at the left, and the other bowline passing aroundanother bank sheave 6 located at the right; the two bowlines then beingbrought into the barge and passed between their respective double deckulleys 7 and around suitable direction pulleys 8 to their respectivedrums 9. As one bowline is wound up, the other is unwound, and in sodoing the barge is moved back and forth about the spud 2 as a pivot. Inthis oscillatory movement of the dredge the bowlines are continuallyassuming different angles with respect to the double deck sheaves 7 andwhile these double deck sheaves will ordinarily lead the line properly,so long as the bank sheaves are in substantially the same horizontalplane with the deck of the barge, yet difliculty often occurs when thebank sheaves Specification ofLetters Patent.

Application filed April 16, 1908.

Patented Dec. 15, 1908.

Serial No. 427,536.

are elevated considerably above the horizontal plane of the decksheaves, as is frequently the case.

It is in connection with the double deck sheaves that my invention isparticularly employed. My improved fair lead sits out on the bow deckjust in front of each double deck sheaves, and consists of a pair ofgrooved rollers or sheaves 10 turning on horizontal pivot shafts, whichlatter are journaled in a frame 11; the frame 11 being in turn pivotallyconnected at the ends to the blocks 12 which slide fore and aft on therods or guides 13, these rods 13 being suitably supported at the ends inthe bracket or frame 14, which is adapted to be fixedly secured to thebarge proximate to the double deck sheaves. The frame 14 may be in theform of brackets angular in cross section secured to the side of thebarge, as in Fig. 3; or the brackets may be associated with otherangle-iron pieces 14, as in Figs. 1 and 2 to permit the frame tobe'secured to the deck of the barge. The frame 11 carrying the sheavesis pivoted in the manner described, so that it Wlll allow the pulleys toturn at an angle and accommodate the bowline whic passes through them,irres ective of the position of the barge; the ro s 13 which carry theblocks 12 being long enough to allow the carriage to slide back andforth, and without interfering with the passing of the bowline betweenthe pulleys 10. It is understood that one of these fair leads consistingofthe pulleys 10 and frame 11, etc. is arranged in conjunction with eachpair of double deck sheaves 7.

The double deck pulleys will ordinarily lead the lines properly, so longas the length of cable running to the bank is not inclined very muchfrom the horizontal plane.

By means of my sliding carriage 11 and sheaves 10, the latter turning onhorizontal pivots and maintained always in a fixed horizontal plane, itis immaterial at what angle the bowline ma lead from the vessel to thebank. The pu leys 10 will always lead it fair between the deck sheaves7.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is r 1. In a dredge, the combination with double decksheaves, of a fair lead therefor, comprising a suitably mounted slidingcarriage, said carriage having opposed grooved rollers turning on pivotsat right angles to the pivots of the double deck sheaves.

2, The combination With a sheave, of a line passing therearound andadapted to be at different angles relative thereto, a pair of opposedgrooved pulleys between Which the line passes, said pulleys mounted onaxes at right angles to the axis of said sheave, and a pivoted slidingframe for said ulleys.

3. The combination With a redger mounted for oscillatory movement, ofdouble deck sheaves thereon, boWlines passing between said double decksheaves and to suitable bank sheaves, With means for operating saidboWlines to oscillate the dredger, and a slidable fair lead on thedredger in front of the double deck sheaves, through Which a bowlineleads.

4. The combination With a dredger mounted for oscillatory movement, ofdouble deck sheaves thereon, bowlines passing between said double decksheaves and to suitable bank sheaves, With means for operating saidboWlines to oscillate the dredger, and a slidable fair lead on thedredger in front of the double deck sheaves, through Which a bowlineleads, said fair leads each comprising a carriage mounted on verticalpivots and slid ing on horizontal trackways, and carrying groovedrollers between Which a boWline passes.

In testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of tWosubscribing Witnesses.

EUGENE L. HORTON.

Witnesses:

F. P. RUHEY, L. T. SENNoTT.

